Girls soccer kick up their heels, head to semi-finals

Tight dribbling and skillful passing helped get the WRHS girls’ varsity soccer team to the semi-finals.
Joyce Robertsphotos A four-goal second half offensive outburst snapped a 2-2 tie and in the process advanced the Wachusett Regional girls varsity soccer team on to Division 1 District semi-finals. The 6-2 win over visiting Groton-Dunstable on Nov. 4 upped the team’s record to 10-3-6 and set up a showdown with Westborough High on Nov. 6 at a location to-be-determined at press time.

Senior co-captain Joanna Roberts put the Mountaineers on the board early in the first half when she neatly lofted a floater just over the Crusader netminder’s outstretched hand and just under the crossbar. Nikki DiPilla slipped one home after a well-placed pass from Casey Rotti to account for the team’s second goal on the night to send both teams off to the break tied at two.

But it was the second half when the hosts turned on the offensive after-burners lighting the sky with four unanswered goals.

Sophomore Emma Mailman banged home what would prove to be the winner unassisted and was followed by senior co-captain Riley Wilde’s score on a penalty kick. Lefty kicker Meaghan Whalen next walloped one past the unsuspecting Crusader keeper before sophomore midfielder Anna Heeley put on the finishing touch with a bullet that struck the left goalpost and clanged in for the sixth tally of the night.

“I think our team is capable of doing anything we set our mind to,” said Wilde. “There’s always confidence among each other that we can do well and go far. I’m just really proud of everyone tonight for such a great effort. Our intensity and adrenaline all feeds off each other’s spirits. We’ve worked hard in practice all week. Our workouts have had us be intense but keep things even keeled.”

“We didn’t know much about them (Groton-Dunstable) at all but the game didn’t depend on them, it depended on us tonight and we pulled through,” senior co-captain Emma Deneault said. “The intensity level was high and we really wanted this one more.”

With the victory, players, coaches and fans were ecstatic with the outcome and the decisive manner by which it was earned.

“I can’t even describe it. This is so incredible,” said a euphoric Roberts. “The three years I’ve been playing here we made this once so I’m hoping we can pull through and go far.”